Button loop



R. J. HODGE BUTTON LOOP Sept. 9, 1930.

Filed June 28. 1929 INVE TEN- R [:1 a E RT J. H r: :3 EH:

ATTy

Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITE STATES PATENT @PFFEQE ROBERT J'. HODGE, .0]? WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BUCKLE COMPANY, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 01" CONNECT- ICUT BUTTGN LOOP Application filed June 28,

This invention relates to button loops having expansible contracted throats through which the button receiving loop communicates with the button retaining loop.

The object of the invention is to provide a button loop with automatic means for rendering an eXpansible throat rigidly contracted as a safety means for positively retaining the button shank behind the throat.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, to be hereinafter described or claimed, for carrying out the above stated object'and such other objects as may hereinafter appear.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to one illustrative device embodying the invention and 'llustrated by the several figures in the accompanying drawing in which the Figure 1 is an elevation of a button loop with expansible throat portion; the Figure 2 is a similar elevation, but illustrating a rigidly locked throat portion; and the Figure 3 is a top view of the locking member.

The invention is not limited to any speciiic form of construction and the details of the device may be varied to produce the novel features hereinafter claimed, the device as illustrated, however, is a button loop comprising the suspension loop 1, the button r c iving loop 2, the contracted throat portion 3, the button retainingloop 4, and the locking member having the sliding bar 5 and integral therewith the button receiving loop 6. The button loop is preferably formed of a piece of resilient wire a middle portion of which is bent to form the button retaining loop t with the contracted throat portion 3,

the remaining wire ends forming the slightly convergent side arms 7 and 8 of the button receiving loop 2, and the wire extremities being looped, as at 9 and 10, in a plane perpendicular to the plane. of the button loop.

The endless suspension loop 1 is preferably F made of wire bent therefor and to provide a lower bar 11 formed as an are having its center at the base of the retaining loop 4, the wire ends abutting and being welded. The looped extremities 9 and 10 are mounted upon the arc 11 for a pivotal and sliding move- 1829. Serial No. 374,393.

ment thereon. The locking member, as illustrated by the Figure 8, is preferably made of a piece of wire having its ends welded to provide an endless loop. The wire is then bent to form the sliding bar 5, looped around the side arms 7 and 8, and the second button receiving loop 6 the base of which normally lies across the upper portion of the button retaining loop fir.

A button having been received within the superimposed button receiving loops 2 and 6, the button shank 12 may rest upon the contracted throat 3, as'illustrated by the Figure 1. It is obvious that, as the button is urged downwardly, the shank will act as a cam to o erate and expand the throat 3 to pass therethrough, the arms 7 and 8 freely oscillating by reason of their looped extremities 9 and 10 describing an are identical with that of the bar 11 along which they must travel. The shank 12 having passed the throat 3 the resiliency of the wire returns the throat to its normal contracted condition, as is usual with such constructions, but the sliding bar 5, by means of the engagcment of the shank 12 with the base of the sliding member, is carried down the arms 7 and 8, relatively divergent as regards the sliding course of the looped bar 5, the arms 7 and 8 being thus made rigid against oscillation and hence the throat 3 being made rigid, as illustrated by the Figure 2. To release the button from within the retaining loop 4, the bar 5 is manually lifted, tl e base of the locking member lifting with it the shank 12 through the throat 3 which, by reason of the return of the bar 5, is again expansible.

I claim:

1. A button loop comprising associated button receiving and retaining loops in axial alignment and formed by resilient side arms diverging downwardly to form the button receiving loop, and then bent inwardly to provide an expansible but normally contracted entrance to the retaining loop, and means mounted upon the side arms and movable only along the plane of the loop and adapted in one position to lock and maintain the contracted entrance rigid, said means being 0perable by the shank of a button moving from the receiving loop into the retaining loop.

2. A button loop comprising associated button receiving and retaining loops in axial alignment and formed by resilient side arms diverging downwardly and forming the receiving loop and then bent inwardly to provide an expansible but normally contracted entrance to the retaining loop, and a looking member slidably mounted upon theside arms and having a baseportion normally extending across the retaining loop and adapted to be carried by a button'shank moving intothe retaining loop to operate the sliding member to a binding position upon the side arms and hence to maintain the throat rigid against expansion.

3. A button loop having resilient side arms of Which a portion diverges downwardly, the arms cooperating to provide associated loops in axial alignment, the loops having between theman opening comprising an expansible throat normally contracted, and

'means mounted upon the divergent portion of the side armsand movable only in the plane of the loop to opposite extreme positions of which one rigidly locks the contracted throat against expansion.

ROBERT J. HODGE. 

